"New Resort Opening May 1 2011" NOW LARIMAR ~ PUNTA CANA

[Katusha]

Dee, yes I've heard that, but not only about NOW, about many resorts. I kinda felt the same way after being in DR last year for like 4 days. Hahah I think it has to do more with people building the tolerance to rum, than them not putting enough in your cocktail. many times when we felt like our drinks didn't have any flavor, we'd ask the bartender to put more in, and they always did 

I emailed Emy Rose and Claribel yesterday regarding the flower arrangements and haven't heard from them yet. How long does it usually takes them to respond? Before we booked NOW for our wedding Emy Rose was responding very very promptly. I hope this continues.

JB, thanks for passing on the DJ info. I'll try to find something out about him.  

[vav11238]

My thought process is that it only reopened in May. There's always a sorting out period. By next year, it's got to be better. Just has to be. I'm hoping, anyway. The only place I researched that I never found one bad thing written about was Paradisus and that place is wicked expensive. 
 

Originally Posted by Katusha 

Hello ladies! I hope everyone is doing lovely and the planning is going great  My FI and I just had our wedding shower and AHR in MO, where he's from and it was wonderful. Now, back to the wedding planning.

Vav, thank you so much for posting those pics. It really looks great. I love their centerpieces with candles and flower petals. I'm wondering how many centerpieces are included in the Divine package (probably for few tables only).

Also, my future mother-in-law spoke to one couple who just came back from NOW Larimar last week, and they were very disappointed. They said the main buffet was indoors and the air conditioner wasn't working, the fountain (where I'm planning the ceremony) didn't work either, etc. I'm really hoping it was all just their negative experience and it won't affect any of us. The reviews of the NOW are so mixed that it is hard to tell there the truth lies. keeping my fingers crossed for the best.   

 

[vav11238]

It seems to take anywhere to a week or more to get a response. The last response I got wasn't from either of them, actually, it was from a planner at Secrets. If Claribel is out on leave then that means her assistant is handling things. And to be honest, I presume there are weddings always happening, so they may just be held up with other brides. I'd give it a week then call if you don't hear back. 
 

Originally Posted by Katusha 

Dee, yes I've heard that, but not only about NOW, about many resorts. I kinda felt the same way after being in DR last year for like 4 days. Hahah I think it has to do more with people building the tolerance to rum, than them not putting enough in your cocktail. many times when we felt like our drinks didn't have any flavor, we'd ask the bartender to put more in, and they always did 

I emailed Emy Rose and Claribel yesterday regarding the flower arrangements and haven't heard from them yet. How long does it usually takes them to respond? Before we booked NOW for our wedding Emy Rose was responding very very promptly. I hope this continues.

JB, thanks for passing on the DJ info. I'll try to find something out about him.  

 

[sarahgn4t]

Hey ladies!

I still have not gotten a response from anyone either.  I have sent a few emails in the last few weeks and nada!  I had my TA send an email to a AM representative that she knows to try and get this issue resolved.

 

So I talked to my other client today that stayed at the NOW the first week in June.  She went there on her honeymoon.  She has never been to an all-inclusive hotel or Punta Cana before so I am taking her reviews very lightly. Uh oh I know!

 

She said the resort is beautiful.  Looks like a magazine. The water is blue the pools are amazing and the decor is very chic. Well, she is one of the unlucky ones that got sick. They stayed for 7 nights and 4 of them she was very ill. She said she just started feeling better last week so it was a month of montazuma's revenge, Or however that is spelled.  Her husband started feeling sick the last two nights but not as bad as her. She couldn't keep anything down. What a rough way to spend your honeymoon   I have only been to the DR once and I was sick too but was hoping it has improved in the last 4 years.  She made the best of it though. She went on that Saona Boat Tour and said that was her favorite part of the trip.  She said it was absolutely breathtaking and a must do!!  The food from the locals on that tour was better than anything she ate the whole trip. She also was approached by a photographer on the beach (she is going to get me his information) and said he offered a photo shoot for $10.  He took them to a bunch of locations at the hotel and the beach and she said it was awesome.  She said the pictures were expensive but well worth it.  I think she purchased all of the pictures for around $300 (I think she said it was around 60 pictures but I could be totally off)  She said there was not one bad picture of them and she would definitely recommend finding him.  She also has the rights to all of the pictures.

 

Back to the food. She said it was terrible. Again she has never been to an all-inclusive so I understand how the first trip to an all-inclusive can seem that way.  She said the buffet was by far better than any restaurant.  She did like the Japanese restaurant. She got some kind of crab dish.  As far as the other restaurants she said they waited over two hours and they were terrible.  She discovered that she could keep down white rice and cucumbers so that is what she stuck with.  She said the drinks were good and the servers were very nice but they were understaffed so getting a drink took awhile.  I think there is something you can take before these trips that coats your stomach so you can adjust to the food but I don't know what it is?? Anyone know what I am talking about?  If so please tell me because I would like to recommend it to all of my guests and maybe purchase a ton of it.

 

She saw two weddings while she was there and said they looked stunning.  I don't think any of her reviews are different than what we have already heard.  It is just hard to swallow after booking it already.  I have been to a bunch of all-inclusives and understand that the food is never very good but I am just praying that I do not get sick and that none of my guests do either.  AAaaah!  This is so nerve wracking!!  I am really hoping my Apple client can get me down there next month so I can experience it firsthand but I almost don't even want to know what I am getting myself into

[laurenann]

Hey ladies I am hoping you can help. I have been struggling with finding the perfect resort for my wedding, like most destination brides. My TA has sent me several quotes but they are all around 1000 per person for land. I am extremely disappointed with these prices. The most important thing to me is to make this as budget friendly for my guests. I came across the NOW LARIMAR site tonight and the prices seem so great. The website is quoting me 230 a night for double occupancy. Does this sound right? I am looking to have a July 2012 wedding. Thanks ladies!!

[vav11238]

Sarah - thanks for that update and I think we may need to begin to take action. I'm going to look up the AM resort people and write them about this. If we start a campaign now (and trust me, I know lots of us have loads other things to do), when it comes to our weddings, you're going to hear loads of complaints from guests. 

 

Or at least, I will. I'm sure. 

 

Here is the home office information. I think if we all start dropping them emails (and getting people who've already visited to send off complaints would help too). This is also securing the idea of having my reception somewhere else. 

 

Am thrilled to hear it is as beautiful as the pictures though. That's a huge weight off the shoulders. 

 

Send email or proper posted letter to:

 

 

AMResorts
7 Campus Boulevard
Newtown Square, PA 19073
info@amresorts.com

 

Laurenann - welcome! Deciding is really, really hard. Unless you can go down and do a pre-visit, you're going to have to take a leap of faith. Go through all the different hotel forums here first, then look at the pictures on the ones that sound good to you. Then read some Travelocity reviews. Then pick a place and hope for the best. 

 

I'm getting married in Feb, so not sure about the prices in July which should be lower because it's the off season (and your prices are pretty close to mine which is the high season and during Americas winter break). Ask several TAs to check on the rates and then see offers the best and who'll price adjust depending on what the others find. Oh, and what are the incentives at the rate you were quoted? Something like - for every 5 rooms the 6th is free, kids stay free or $200 resort coupons - that sort of stuff. 

 

Any other questions just shout the out. We're a pretty helpful bunch!

 

Valerie

[TJfeb2012]

Hi Sarah, We havent quite figured that part of our trip out yet, LOL.  The week after the wedding we are going over into Santo Domingo, will make it easy to get to Haiti and Puerto Plata.  I plan on doing a ridiculous amount of sight seeing this week and going into Jacoba to see the mountains and everything.  For the 3rd week we are heading over into Samana.  They have an amazing waterfull just outside of Samana in Los Terranas and I would like to do the whale watching and stuff during the 3rd week.  Now we just have to pick our hotels and finalize that with the TA.

 

If anyone has suggestions for hotels I would appreciate them
 

Originally Posted by sarahgn4t 

TJ Feb- What other hotels will you be staying at after the NOW???  We are getting married Feb 17th and are staying at the Now for a week and then we are gong to Secrets Sanctuary for a week as well. Since we are booking through Apple we are able to transfer some of our free perks to the Secrets resort as well since they are a part of the AM resorts.

 

[TJfeb2012]

Hi Vav, I talked with my sister and she told me to tell you to contact her through her website.  She said depending on the circumstances she is totally willing to go early for our wedding and is up for shooting other weddings!!!  Maybe between the 2 of you, you guys could figure something out
 

Originally Posted by vav11238 

I loved your sisters portfolio!! Is there anyway she'll be in DR a week and half earlier? 
 

 

 

[jbmarch2012]

Hey Ladies! Just wanted to share with you, I stalked this bride you recently posted on the Now's FB page and she sent me a link to her pictures. She used the resort's photographer.

 

http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/fe/l=en_US/p/dasta/Main/AlbumID=3496907012/a=5017491028_101234204/invalidateAlbumCache=true/s_c=0/s_otsc=SYE/s_otsi=SAER/s_ev20=OTSC%7CSYE%7COTSI%7CSAER/s_ru=FALSE/s_se=SHR/s_st=RegOptEu#ss=%7B%22uc%22%3A5%2C%22aid%22%3A3496907012%2C%22vp%22%3A%22g%22%2C%22sb%22%3A1%7D 

[shuntaviawoods]

Hi. I am new to the forum I am planning a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic.  I am undecided on a hotel, Larimar or Barcelo Palace.  Will you please e-mail any information and/or pixs you have regarding Barcelo? I would like info own wedding packages and rooms.  My e-mail address is shuntaviawoods@yahoo.com.

 

Thank you